Month: December 2015

I’m ready to start the new year off with two spectacular new adult releases from Embrace. Enjoy an intense romantic scifi thriller with Altered by debut author, Marnee Blake, or an emotional roller-coaster ride contemporary romance in Last Wish by Erin Butler.

Follow the hashtag #EmbracetheNewYear on Instagram and Twitter and start the year off right!

Altered by Marnee Blake

The sickness came on suddenly and violently. When it was done, waitress Blue Michaels was different in a really strange way. And the entire town of Glory was dead…except for her.

Only that’s not exactly true. A handful of people made it, including U.S. Army Specialist Seth Campbell, who was caught in the wrong town at the worst time. He’s fierce and protective, and way too good-looking. As much as they need a leader—as much as Blue wants to trust him—there are too many questions and not enough time for answers. Now they are hunted. But what their pursuers don’t know is each of them has strange new powers. And they’ll use their “gifts” to survive…no matter who stands in their way.

Marnee Blake was a 2014 & 2015 Golden Heart® Finalist and holds a BA in English literature from Dickinson College. She used to teach high school students but these days she only has to wrangle her own children. Originally from a small town in Western Pennsylvania, she now battles traffic in southern New Jersey where she lives with her hero husband and their happily-ever-after: two very energetic boys. When she isn’t writing, she can be found refereeing disputes between her children, cooking up something sweet, or hiding from encroaching dust bunnies with a book.

Marnee’s debut, ALTERED, a NA sci-fi romantic thriller, will release in December 2015 from Entangled Publishing.

Nothing feels right. Not since my best friend died and I fucked up the one promise he asked me to make. The past follows me everywhere, tangling me up like weeds, reminding me that my life is empty. So fucking empty.

Then she walks into the bar, all bright beauty and sweet lips made for kissing.

Em Stewart is a complication…one I need to avoid. She’s got heavy secrets of her own, ones she hides from her friends—and lies about to herself.

No matter how hard I try, I can’t resist her, and our unexpected road trip sure as hell isn’t helping my cause. But I’ll be damned if I screw up my first chance at something real…

Erin Butler is lucky enough to have two jobs she truly loves. As a librarian, she gets to work with books all day long, and as an author, Erin uses her active imagination to write the kinds of books she loves to read. Young Adult and New Adult books are her favorites, but she especially fangirls over a sigh-worthy romance.

She lives in Central New York with her very understanding husband, a stepson, and doggie BFF, Maxie. Preferring to spend her time indoors reading or writing, she’ll only willingly go outside for chocolate and sunshine—in that order.

Nothing feels right. Not since my best friend died and I screwed up the one promise he asked me to make. The past follows me everywhere, tangling me up like weeds, reminding me that my life is empty. So goddamn empty.

Then she walks into the bar, all bright beauty and sweet lips made for kissing.

Em Stewart is a complication…one I need to avoid. She’s got heavy secrets of her own, ones she hides from her friends—and lies about to herself.

No matter how hard I try, I can’t resist her, and our unexpected road trip sure as hell isn’t helping my cause. But I’ll be damned if I screw up my first chance at something real…

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: This book…I mean really. This book is full of feels, I kind of ran the gamut of emotions. A great coming of age romance.

Em and Ronan are both a little broken. Em is in a bad relationship with a real douche bag. She knows it’s not healthy, but she can’t let it go. Ronan is broken up over the death of his best friend and can’t let it go. They run into each other at the local bar one night after not seeing each other for quite some time. They give each other pep talks and a shoulder to lean on, but go their separate ways. Em makes a rash decision that ends poorly and she has no choice but to ask Ronan for help. Ronan comes to the rescue and things heat up from there.

There is a lot going on in this book and while it can be read as a standalone, it is the second book in the series, and I kind of wish I had read book one before I read this. I say this because I was a bit confused at the beginning not understanding what the conflict was that was causing Ronan’s issues. That being said, it is explained later in the book, so that helps.

This is a great friends-to-lovers romance with a sweet but sexy hero and a heroine you can’t help but love.

Last Wish takes you on journey of second chances, forgiveness, self-redemption and ultimately finding love in the people that have been there all along.. This is Em and Ronan’s story.

The sickness came on suddenly and violently. When it was done, waitress Blue Michaels was different in a really strange way. And the entire town of Glory was dead…except for her.

Only that’s not exactly true. A handful of people made it, including U.S. Army Specialist Seth Campbell, who was caught in the wrong town at the worst time. He’s fierce and protective, and way too good-looking. As much as they need a leader—as much as Blue wants to trust him—there are too many questions and not enough time for answers. Now they are hunted. But what their pursuers don’t know is each of them has strange new powers. And they’ll use their “gifts” to survive…no matter who stands in their way.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Okay, so admittedly, I was in a angsty romance slump, so my mind was open to something different and new. I certainly found it here with Marnee Blake’s Altered.

This book was a pleasant surprise. The plot concept was new and refreshing. The characters were great. The attraction between Seth and Blue was off the charts. You get inside the minds of the characters and get pulled right into the story—sometimes quite literally with Kitty’s new superpower. The book finished strong but left the reader with unanswered questions. I am assuming this is the start of a new series and I can’t wait to read the next book.

My only criticism, because it wouldn’t be a fair review without the other side, is that at some points in the story there was just too much jumping back and forth between characters. I think it would have worked a little better if the author had stuck to just alternating between Seth and Blue, but I understand the need to put the other characters perspectives in, as well. It just needed cleaned up a tiny bit.

If you like the sci fi genre then you will undoubtedly love this book. If you aren’t sure, then this book is still for you, because it gives you both the sci fi aspect and the romance aspect that is done so well.

This book is awesomely unique! Superheros and romance plus a conspiracy? What more could you ask for in a new adult paranormal romance? Not much, me thinks. I really enjoyed this book. It came at a time when I needed a break for the same old stale romances and the typical dystopians. Grab this book and let yourself get swept away in this new adult romance.

If you picked mostly A‘s you got Indulgence Diane Alberts. You’re elegant, polished, and you can probably handle any situation with poise. You like your heroes suited, powerful, and with an edge to them. Seeing the heroine swept off her feet into a world of luxury has you ready to trade places with her. We think you’ll love BEAUTY AND THE BOSS.

Researcher Maggie Donovan has no luck with men, and it doesn’t
help that she can’t keep her eyes off of her sexy boss – the one everyone else
in the office calls The Beast. Relationships in the office are forbidden. So no
one is more surprised than Maggie when she pretends to be his fiancée to save
him during a difficult situation. Not only has she put her job on the line, but
the future of the company.

Billionaire Benjamin Gale III doesn’t believe in love or
romance, but the look on his mother’s face when Maggie tells her that she’s his
fiancée is worth millions. Instead of firing her for her insubordination, he
goes along with the ruse. In his arms–and in his bed–she’d be everything he
could ever want…which is why he can’t have her.

If you picked mostly B‘s you got Otherworld Diane Alberts. You’re adventurous, witty, and you aren’t afraid of a good challenge. You like your heroes growly, brooding, and Alpha with a capital ‘A’. Diving into the world of the paranormal is your ultimate escape. We think you’ll love DIVINELY RUINED.

Rebecca’s life sucked before she became an angel. Crappy apartment, awful jobs, abusive boyfriends–it was no wonder she jumped at the chance to escape it all and become a real live angel. The problem is Rebecca’s not very angelic, and she’ll have to do more to earn her wings than end her love affair with the word f–er, frick.Especially when she’s assigned to save single father Tony Weis, whose less-than-pure thoughts wreak hell on a telepathic angel’s nerves. It’s all Rebecca can do to keep her hands off him…but when she loses her memory injuring herself to save Tony’s daughter, now it’s Tony’s turn to be her angel and care for her. But will Tony’s devotion tempt her from her angelic path, even if it means being human again?

If you picked mostly C‘s you got Brazen Diane Alberts. You might be the girl-next-door but there’s more to you than meets the eye. You like your heroes ready and willing to please any time, any place. Slipping between the pages of a good read is almost as good as slipping between the sheets for you. We think you’ll love SAY YOU’RE MINE.

Navy SEAL Steven Thomas has only ever been able to count on three things: waking up in the morning, going to sleep sometime during the night, and Lauren Brixton. She’s been his best friend since grade school, and what they have is the only relationship he’s managed not to ruin.Until one drunken night puts that all in jeopardy.Lauren’s watched Steven flit from one-night stand to one-night stand, seemingly not interested in something more. So when the long-ignored attraction between the two of them blows up in their faces, she does the only thing she can—she pretends she doesn’t want him. But all’s fair in love and war, and Steven’s not about to lose the only person in his life who matters…

If you picked a mix of A’s, B’s, and/or C’s you’re someone who enjoys variety both in their lives and in their books. You’re known for your great taste and your friends probably come to you for advice on which books to buy. When it comes to book boyfriends you know that one is never enough. We think you’ll enjoy everything Diane has to offer so visit her Entangled Publishing page to find all of her great books!

About Diane Alberts:

Diane Alberts is a USA TODAY bestselling Contemporary Romance author with Entangled Publishing. Under the name Jen McLaughlin, she also writes New York Times, USA TODAY, andWall Street Journal bestselling books with Penguin Random House. She was mentioned inForbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. Diane is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Diane has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author. Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and four cats. Her goal is to write so many fantastic stories that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Emerson Montgomery loves his high school sweetheart, Kelly Price. He’d do anything for her, including agreeing to a break where they’ll see other people as he heads off to college. Struggling with the break and guilt over dating other people, Emerson meets Eva, a beautiful, funny, easygoing, and nosey junior.

Eva Harvey chose this particular college with the hopes of fulfilling her own fairytale and falling in love at the same college where her parents met. She does her best to go with the flow and simply see what happens, but Emerson simultaneously causes her to fall in love while making her second guess everything along the way.

There’s some things you know without a doubt. However, Eva causes Emerson to doubt everything he believes about his future while he causes her to doubt what’s right in front of her. Can they find a way to erase all doubts or will it tear them apart in the process?

Eva glances over her shoulder before doing a double take. “Uh, yeah. Shouldn’t you be getting dressed?”

“Am I making you uncomfortable?” I ask teasingly.

“As uncomfortable as you would be if I walked into the room wearing only a towel.” She picks up her sandwich, takes a bite, and then faces me. “You can’t have yours until you put on clothes.”

I laugh. “Okay, okay.”

By the time I change and make it back to the kitchen, Eva is walking past me to take her own shower. I eat my sandwich and then start getting my books together. I’m grabbing a pen from the end table in the living room when I hear, “Emerson.” I lift my head to see Eva leaning against the threshold of the hallway. A white towel is wrapped around her body and her hair. I swallow hard at the sight of her. Ample cleavage looks strained from underneath the towel, one of her legs is showing from the hip down thanks to her not having the towel completely wrapped around her, and her damp skin shines.

“Just wanted to prove a point,” she says before turning and walking to my bedroom.

“Feel free to prove points more often,” I call after her, causing her to laugh.

Author Bio:

Lindsay Paige is the author of multiple Young Adult, New Adult, and Sports romances. She also coauthors sports romances with Mary Smith. Along with writing, she loves reading, watching hockey, especially the Pittsburgh Penguins, and finding funny terrible puns and recipes on Pinterest. All the while, she is also focused on completing college.

Lindsay resides in North Carolina and is inspired by the world around her and the people in it. She is currently working on numerous solo works and a couple of projects with coauthor Mary Smith as well.

Most girls would kill for the opportunity to work for Jack McAlister, Hollywood’s hottest actor, but twenty-one-year-old Jessica Beckett is ready to kick him out of her red Ford Fiesta and never look back. She should be spending her junior year in France, eating pastries and sharpening her foreign language skills. Instead she’s reluctantly working as Jack’s personal assistant, thanks to her powerhouse talent agent aunt.

Jack is private, prickly, and downright condescending. Jessica pushes his buttons—she’s not the type of girl to swoon over celebrity heartthrobs, precisely why her aunt thought she’d be perfect for the job—and Jack pushes right back.

But as she begins to peel away his layers, Jessica is shocked to find she craves her boss’s easy smile and sexy blue eyes. The problem is, so does the entire female population. And what started out as the job from hell soon has Jess wondering if a guy like Jack could ever find love with a regular girl like her.

Synopsis: Every girl has a secret (or two)…
On the verge of losing the Malibu home she inherited from her great-aunt, Addi Dekker is completely failing to prove to her family she can make it as a writer. Not exactly how a girl proves her independence. If she doesn’t want to give up her dream and go back to the soul-sucking job she just left, Addi has to swallow her dislike of Hollywood and rent the house out to the sexy-as-hell film producer.
And maybe (shhhh!) save money by secretly living there, too.
Roque Gallagher is pouring his heart and savings into his first independent film to make the industry acknowledge him for his talent and not just his family name. Addi’s home is perfect for the shoot, but she’s far too tempting. He’s never been able to handle work and a relationship, and this is the film of a lifetime. Between a shrinking budget and his director quitting, the last thing he needs is a sexy-as-sin tease like Addi. And he has a feeling there’s something she’s hiding…

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Malibu Secrets is an enjoyable, sweet romance about two people with something to prove who find they need each other. When their pasts and secrets threaten to ruin things, can they find support in each other?

Addi’s family thinks she’s irresponsible and out of control. Roque wants to make a name for himself in Hollywood without his family’s name or money helping him. Addi needs help to save her inherited house. Roque needs to make his independent film perfect. They need each other to succeed in proving their worth to their families, but secrets and lies get in the way.

I liked the book once it finally got going. It was a little slow in the beginning, but the pace picked up nicely as the book went along. Unfortunately, I didn’t really feel the connection between Addi and Roque. It was there, but I think it just needed a little kick. However, there was a happily ever after that was satisfying, the writing solid and the characters likable. The plot was unique and that is a good thing.

If you like romance, Hollywood and HEAs, then this book might be for you.

Synopsis: Uncovering this sexy geek’s charm is easy. Keeping her hands off of him is impossible.

While he may look like the love child of a movie starlet and an NFL linebacker, Ben Langley has the people skills of a half-drowned porcupine. Why socialize when there are chemistry labs and bad sci-fi flicks? If he has any hope of taking the helm as CEO of the family business, Ben needs an image makeover. Pronto.

Enter Holly Colvin, owner of First Impressions public relations and branding firm, and the woman who just saved Ben from the clutches of an over-attentive sales clerk. Holly’s rebranded hundreds of companies in her career, but she’s never rebranded a person. The guy clearly needs help, though, and she’s just the woman for the job.

With the clock ticking for them both, Holly and Ben face off over wardrobe malfunctions and business jargon that sounds a lot sexier than it should. But can Holly make Ben into the man he thinks he should be without losing the man she’s starting to love?

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Who doesn’t love a good nerd to stud story? (Can’t Buy Me Love anyone? Does that date me? Probably. J ) The Fix Up is sexy story that is full of sexy moments and witty banter that had me swooning one minute and laughing out loud the next. Plus there is Ben…oh my, Ben!

I kind of love Ben. Okay, not kind of. I love Ben. He is one naughty nerd. He and Holly meet by chance and she agrees to turn him from nerd to hottie. Holly is a PR specialist and Ben needs one. He is adorkable and awkward, but under that geeky exterior hides an alpha just waiting to be released. Perfect right? Yes. Yes it was. There back and forth between Ben and Holly had me laughing out loud. The attraction between then is hot and sexy.

Happily Ever After: A Day in the Life of the HEAJ.A. Huss
((Rook & Ronin Series))
Publication date: December 16th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Life in Rook & Ronin’s world has been bliss for fifteen years. Rook, Veronica, and Ashleigh are still BFF’s raising their kids together. Ronin, Spencer, and Ford have managed to go legit and stay out of trouble. And they have a pack of kids running around the eight thousand square foot Vail mansion they all share for the holidays—begging for gifts, and fun, and love.

But every HEA has problems.

Five is fifteen and getting ready to go off to college. He’s put it off as long as he could in order to stay close to Princess Shrike, but his stay of execution is over and in three weeks he’s off to Oxford. But Five can’t leave until he gets the only thing he’s ever wanted. The heart of his Princess.

Ford and Ashleigh never had any more children after Five. And now that Kate is sixteen, Ashleigh is out of her head with desire for just one more chance to have a baby in the house.

Rook and Ronin have two beautiful daughters, but Sparrow is growing up too. And she just got a job offer that has Ronin crazed with paternal worry.

And Spencer is the father of a fifteen-year-old princess who looks way too much like her Bombshell mother for his comfort level.

Join the whole Rook & Ronin gang for a Team Christmas you will never forget.

There are SEVEN BOOKS in the Rook & Ronin series before this one. This is not a standalone. Rook & Ronin Series & Spinoffs (1) Tragic – Rook & Ronin

I ease out of the room quietly and take the baby downstairs. The house is big and the kitchen is far, but I can hear the bustle of kids and dogs before I even make it downstairs. When I walk in, it’s a madhouse.

I love this fucking madhouse. My girls are all laughing and talking a mile a minute. Belle is stuffing her face with pancakes, Jasmine and Ariel are clinking their OJ glasses together like they are having a secret toast, and Rory is…

I squint my eyes at Rory. She’s talking to Five, but that’s not what makes me squint my eyes. She’s wearing a Shrike Trikes t-shirt and sweat pants, but it’s the way… it’s the shape of her…

“Daddy,” Rory squeals, getting up from her stool at the breakfast bar and coming towards me. “Five wants to know—”

“Absolutely not.”

She stops short. “What?” Her smile falters.

Cindy smacks her little fist into my eyeball, and I have to take a deep breath. “I’m sorry, what were you going to ask?” I eye Five suspiciously. I know he’s always liked her, but he’s so weird. Like Ford, just weird. Always wearing those suits. Always on that computer. And he’s been in and out of different college programs since he was ten or eleven. He’s gone a lot and that’s the way I like it.

But today he looks… different. Different in the same way that Rory looks different in her innocent nightclothes. He almost looks normal in his flannel pajama pants and Shrike t-shirt. Add in the fact that his normally perfectly coiffed hair is messed up a little like he just rolled out of bed, and I get flushed with anger.

In fact, Rory’s long blonde hair is all messed up too. Flowing over her shoulders like an unruly waterfall. And Five is looking at her the way I look at the Bomb.

“But Daddy,” Rory pleads. “I need to go shopping.”

“Shopping?” I ask, ratcheting down my suspicions and getting a hold of my paranoia as the seconds tick off.

“Yeah, we don’t want to ski today. We want to go shopping in the Village.”

Shopping. I mull it over in my head. Lots of people there. Crowds of people, actually. Not private, in other words. “Maybe,” I say. “But I’m pretty sure Ford is counting on you to help him, Five.”

“Mr. Shrike,” Five starts. “I’ve already cleared it with my father. Kate’s helping him today. Right, Kate?” He looks over at his sister and there’s… there’s some kind of secret look going on between the two of them.

“Yup,” Kate says. She is as normal as Five is strange. And she’s been Ford’s little sidekick since day one. But she’s smarter than people give her credit for. I think she secretly likes it that way. Like being underestimated is the best gift she ever got out of being Ford’s adopted daughter. “Ford and I are skiing a double black once the kids are finished.”

“Well,” I say, eyeing my brood. Rory needs a chaperone. Belle, Jas and Ariel won’t go shopping. They love Ford too much to skip out on a whole day with him on the slopes. And there’s no chance in hell that Rook and Ronin will have time to shop today. Sparrow has ballet rehearsal before The Nutcracker tonight. “Oliver,” I say, smiling. “Ollie, my boy. You don’t want to ski today, do you? You hate skiing.” He does too, he can’t ski worth a shit. “Will you go with Rory and finds something extra-special pretty for Mommy today? She’s tired and needs a pick-me-up present before Santa comes.”

I roll my eyes. “OK, good. You can go, Princess, but…” I look at Five. “But…”

“But what, Daddy?” Rory asks.

But what am I going to say to Five? You touch my girl, I’ll break your fingers? I’ll grab that shotgun I’m hiding under my bed and—“Just be home in time for dinner. Your mom is making something special tonight.”

Author Bio:

JA Huss is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romances. She likes stories about family, loyalty, and extraordinary characters who struggle with basic human emotions while dealing with bigger than life problems. JA loves writing heroes who make you swoon, heroines who makes you jealous, and the perfect Happily Ever After ending.

You can chat with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorJAHuss), Twitter (@jahuss), and her kick-ass romance blog, New Adult Addiction (www.newadultaddiction.com).

If you’re interested in getting your hands on an advanced release copy of her upcoming books, sneak peek teasers, or information on her upcoming personal appearances, you can join her newsletter list (http://eepurl.com/JVhAr) and get those details delivered right to your inbox.

On a dark, rainy night I drove my overstuffed junker car back to a town I never expected to see again.

And when I needed a rescue by the side of the road, a six-foot tall piece of hot, unfinished business named Mark was what the universe sent me.

Three years earlier I’d fled town (and Mark) to follow my wrongly-convicted father to his federal prison, working crappy jobs to stay afloat and visit him every second I could. But now Dad’s dead and I’m mysteriously offered the best job of my life at the college where his life blew up when he was accused of a crime he didn’t commit.

Someone wants me here. Desperately.

I’m hoping it’s Mark.

Because if it’s not, I’m in more danger than I ever imagined.

And if it is?

Mark may be the most dangerous choice of all.

RETURN is book 1 in the Coming Home romantic suspense trilogy by Meli Raine.

I can’t look. I just…can’t. Too many memories are in that face. That rugged, handsome face. My heart jumps up like an excited puppy, wagging in my chest, eager to be acknowledged and touched. The rest of me shoves it down.

Officer Mark Paulson stands in front of me in uniform, soaking wet, his hat making the rain fall in streaks in front of him. The curtain of water catches my eye. It’s easier to watch it than to stare at him. If I did stare, though, I know what I would see.

Broad shoulders under that crisp black uniform shirt. A thin scar running under his jaw, where he was knifed in a fight when he did a tour in Afghanistan. Wet, blonde hair I used to love to stroke. Gentle hands that once cupped my face. Eyes that could draw me in with a hot breath. The tender taste of lips meant only for me.

He speaks, pulling me out of the memory. Stop it, Carrie, I think. Stop with the dreams you destroyed.

“You okay?” he asks, looking around swiftly. He’s worried. That’s really touching. It’s nice to know he cares. Three years is long enough for him to stop hating me, right?

And I know he hates me.

He has to. I disappeared one day and never said goodbye to him. When you do that to someone, they tend to really resent it. Especially if they love you.

“I’m, uh…” My voice fails me as I watch the water fall in sheets down his cap. “My tire blew.”

He thumps his hand on the car door. “She’s still around, huh?” I know he means the car, but it feels like a dig. Like he’s cutting into me for leaving.

Like he’s still hurt.

If he’s still hurt, that means the feelings haven’t faded, and if his feelings are still that strong, then mine make more sense. I thought when I left town I would shed so much damage and hurt. Because leaving town meant I could leave behind so much pain.

But leaving Mark? That meant the pain came with me.

I start to shiver. It’s not from the cold and the rain. Those arms. The rain drops gather and ripple down his taut muscles, dotted with a sprinkling of dark hair. I remember when I was in those arms.